After rescuing the city Alderman from assassination, Emerane takes him to her tenement for refuge, only to find the Furie near death from a poisoned arrow. It seems the House of Asps intend to eliminate Umber's only defenders of justice. But to what end, and at whose command, Emerane must find out. What she doesn't yet realize is that, as the Night, she is their final target. Will her former companion, Azmeer, be her end?